Arthur Edward Stollery - Our Project

Starting the SearchLooking for the grave reference for Arthur Edward Stollery

Finding the grave referenceWe now know where to look

Looking for the graveWill we be able to find it?

Getting warmer...Reading the grave to make sure it's Arthur's

We've found itTom prepares to place the Marlesford cross on Arthur's grave

Tom with the grave of Arthur Edward Stollery

The grave of Arthur Edward Stollery

The Marlesford cross is placed on Arthur's grave

A connection with home, MarlesfordThe cross is made from an oak tree from Marlesford

The Marlesford crossConnecting Arthur with Marlesford and his comrades from Marlesford that fell during the Great War

Vadencourt CemeteryArthur's grave is in the front row, 7th from the left

We visited Vadencourt Cemetery on the morning of Saturday 12th April 2014.

The soldier we were searching for was Arthur Edward Stollery.

Our boys searched the cemetery register to find the name of Arthur, this gave us the grave reference for the boys to search for. The boys had to find grave 1A-7, which they did in no time at all. Tom was thrilled to find the grave of his second soldier from Marlesford, he had been holding his Marlesford cross in the car and looking out for the cemetery for about 20 minutes, since we left the grave of CSM Chambers at Templeux-Le-Guerard British Cemetery.

The weather was beautiful and the cemetery looked perfect.

We sat on the grass and spoke about Arthur and touched his grave stone, it felt as though a real connection had been made. It's difficult to explain why touching a gravestone can cause an emotional reaction but it felt wonderful to touch the letters of Arthur's name on the white stone. Perhaps the warm, spiritual thoughts we brought from Marlesford were enough for us to feel this connection.

Update - 2016

We left the Marlesford Cross on Arthurs grave in April 2014. In September 2016, Shirley Stone, Arthur's niece, visited Vadencourt Cemetery and found that the groundstaff of the CWGC had kindly left the cross in place. Shirley was 'thrilled to see it in person' after reading about on this website and provided the photographs below.

Left to right: Arthurs grave with the new cross in 2014; The grave in 2016 with roses laid by Shirley Stone;